The Decorative Chimneys of Hampton Court Palace

Back in the middle ages, a heated home was a luxury that the majority did not have. Most people huddled around an open hearth in the center of the room for warmth, over which they also cooked their meals, while smoke filled their houses and their lungs. Chimneys were a new thing then, and belonged only to the most princely of dwellings.

The Chimneypots of Paris Rooftops

A trivial but iconic architectural element of Europe are the chimneypots that adorn the rooftops of houses and buildings. In Paris, in particular, they are ubiquitous and occur in unusually large concentration on nearly every building.